2018 International Tandem Rally

You can now get an email sent to you with a link to the journal in audio MP3 form sent to you once Eifion has done his magic. Email webgroup@tandem-club.org.uk to set this up for you or you can set it up the next time you renew, there is a checkbox on the membership form.

The rally is being held in Bensheim, a small town in the south of Hessen, about 30k north of Heidelberg.The dates are 9/5/18-13/5/18. Arrival on the 9th and departure on the 13th with rides on the 10th, 11th and 12th. Participants can choose a long ride (80-100k), medium 60-80k or short 40-60k) The base is at the Allee Hotel :- alleehotel@alleehotel.de A double Europa room costs €540 for 4 nights inclusive of breakfast and the evening meal. Bookings are to be made direct to the hotel quoting Tandemtreffen 2018 The rally is being organised by Reiner and Marion Bünger and their email is :- TT2018@fam-buenger.de The German rallies are very social affairs and we thoroughly enjoyed last years, we have already booked for this one. E-mail Jane Taylor for more information.

Orange have discontinued their ‘freeserve’ and ‘fsnet’ email service so renewal reminders are not being delivered. If you had a freeserve or fsnet e-mail address which has been discontinued please let the renewals secretary know your new e-mail address. e-mail: renewals@tandem-club.org.uk

Chris and Chris organised the August ride for the Taunton and West Country Groups where 14 tandems and 2 solos assembled at The George Hotel in Castle Cary on a warm and overcast Saturday. Members Carol & Tim and Mandy & Mike were making their first foray into Group rides.
After pre-ride coffee and cakes we followed the South Somerset Cycle Route south out of town and through charming villages such as North Cadbury, South Cadbury (past the site of the Iron Age hill fort, Cadbury Castle) Corton Denham, Sandford Orcas and Trent.
Splendid “sheep dog” work was done by Malcolm to gather up strays that missed one of the many twists and turns.
Lunch was taken at The Lamb&Lark @ Limington and both very good service and meals were fully appreciated.
Following lunch a gentle return through Kingsdon and Babcary to Castle Cary completed the 35 miles of occasional undulations.
Afternoon tea and cakes were enjoyed by several at The George once more and an enjoyable event was concluded without any mishaps.

James and Andy organised the October ride for the Taunton Group which trialled a different way of leading a route.
As the group has become bigger it has brought obvious social advantages, but some problems as well. If 24 people turn up at a cafe and ask for double shot flat whites with skinny almond milk and sprinkles, basically the rest of the day is a right off. Add on a puncture or two and someone missing a turning and it becomes tricky for the organiser and frustrating for everyone else.
So October’s route from Bovey Tracey to Moretonhampstead and back was really simple; almost everyone could self-navigate, cycle at their own speed, arrive at the cafes in their own time and the organisers rode at the back to sweep up any problems. So because we were ready for problems…..there weren’t any. And we had great weather, autumn leaves, super company and the best cycling cafe in the west.
www.cafe3sixty.co.uk
Altogether a good day out!!

Mark and Liz organised the September ride for the Taunton Group where 6 tandems and 2 singletons met at Yatton in slight drizzle which rapidly improved to a pleasant day. Quiet small lanes were taken to Clevedon where the tide was in and there were fine views over the Bristol Channel. After coffee on the seafront we tackled a hill out of Clevedon and then onward to Weston in Gordano before joining sustrans route 410 towards Nailsea. Suburban roads were taken around the edge of Nailsea and Backwell to take us to lunch at the Rising Sun.

Food was served promptly and portions were ample! Finally a rural route was taken to Claverham and back to Yatton.